The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-11-30
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
THE ANNUAL STATEMENT OF TiE
AFFAIRS OF STATE.

ID kl-NAf S.h1J A>-'1a NAV II ~
AFFAIRS OF STATE.
Suggestions Concerning Dlteren: Natter
of Interest and Importance 20 the Com
monweaItE.
The usual annual message of tbs
Governor was read to the Legislature
Tuesday. The topics discussed il tnE
document are as follows:
THE STATE DEGT.
The outstanding debt Of the State is
SS, 400, 900. OF this amount $277, ,G0G
consists OF the estimated validity IL those
bonds issued between 1868 and 1872 sid
of the ante beli;ll2 bonds which taTe not
yet been consolidated under the ACT O;
1873. There is every reason to believe
that a large proportion OF these old
bonds have been lost Or destroyed, and
that the State will never be called upon
to redeem them. The Comptroller Gen
eral reports that but few OF these bond:
are being funded and recommends that
a limit be put to the time when they may
be exchanged, except by special legisla-
ton. IS our whole State debt must be
readjusted in 1898, the date OF its ma-
tucity, The Governor regards this recon-
incubation as sound policy and COM
mends it to the consideration of the
Legislature.
During the past yea: the Sinking Fund
Commission las Cancelled S32, ,517.30 OF
Deficiency bonds, and Will soon take up
about $4,000 :nore-ieaving about
500, 900 of these bonds to be met at
maturity. The Governor recommends
that the State borrow that sum, al to
4! per cent, to take up these bonds. lie
also recommends the ultimate funding
Of the whole debt at 4 per cent.
FORFEITED LANDS.
By reference to the report OF the Com
missioners of the Sinking Fund it viii
be found that there we're on the forfeited
land list at the end Of the fiscal year
ending October 81, 1886, 954,2 ,237 acres.
That during the present fiscal year, enc
ing October 81, 1887, new fo1feitures
have been incurred which amount to
1CO, ,O45 acres, the whole amounting IL
the aggregate to l,054, 282 acres.
During the present fiscal year 45,23S
acres of land have been sold or redeemed,
and 81, l3l acres have been stricken from
the forfeited list as erroneous entries,
anCs still rlere remains on this LIST g Det
acreage OF 9l4,S53 acres. Whilst the
foregoing exhibit shows that tue acreage
of lc1a. or the forfeited list at the present
time is 80, 1888 acres less than q: the sa:n@
time year, it viii be seen on e,iami-
natio4 IN, rs decrease IS Lot Que to
the fast t. taxes have been more
prompt, Paid, but to the activity and
einciency Of the Land Department il
efecting alcs anG redcmptio2s OF for-
feited Iaads and in discovering AID
eliminating erroneous forfeitures thai
had crept ::ato the forfeited list from
1868 to 1856. The fact that 100, o,045
acres Of new forfeitllres have been IL
CURED during the present fiscal yeac is 5.
matter of serious moment to the State,
and a great injustice to those citizens
whose patriotism and sense Of duty con-
strain them to pay their taxes.
TO enact law that Will abatc this
great and growing evil is q matter, there
fore, for the most earnest consideration
of the Legislature.
The Governor then reviews lie COURSE
of legislation upon this matser-sho"ing
that the effect Of legislation and o: the
decisions of the Courts has been to iu-
crease forfeitures. The Governor recon-
mends legislation to give purchaser OF
forfeited lands sood title, and to enable
the Sinking Fund Commission to collect,
through the Courts, back taxes Row IN
paid. The new law is suggested IS an
addition to, and not substitute for, the
means now afforded to the Commission
to effect sales or redemptiols.
EDUCATION.
Touching the public schools the Gov
ernor refers to the report Of the Superin-
tendent of Education, and suggests q
general law to authorize districts 90 levy
local taxes, together with such other
measures as will lengthen the school-term
and increase tie general efficiency OF the
schools.
The South Carolina College is shown
to be in prosperous condition, both as
regards the number Of students ana the
general efficiency of the institution. The
Governor calls attention to the stateEaenS
OF the Trustees that tits true development
should be in the direction o. University
methods and work, and commencs to
the General Assembly their scheme to be
submitted, ''for the reorganization OF the
institution On University basis.
The Citadel Academy is reported TO be
in excellent condition, and both graa,l-
ates and cadets making fine record Tor
themselves and for the State. Antic- pat
ing the need Of large accommodations:
the Governor calls attention to the States
claim against the United States Goveln-
ment, Tor use Of the Academy bai'G:ngs
and for the value Of the portion destroyed
by fire while in such use. he sincerely
trusts that the present Congress VII. :sc-
knowledge the justice OF the claim and
order its payment.
Clafin University, for coloreG pups,
is reported in satisfactory condition.
The same report is made OF The instltu-
ton for the deaf, dumb and bina ct
Cedar Springs.
TIE DEPARTMENT OF AG@iCILTCGE.
The Governor reviews tie OPERATIONS
OF the State Department OF Agriculture
and concludes:
':The statistical report Of tae Depart
r:out SLOWS an increase ovsI last :c;.f II
,!1=; ,:G1og.lt aud value Of tie crops u 'Yiie
S-A:e. lie SsasoIs were generally t&To.-
s:le, as: tue Iur CTS i.<;:Gc iea.1::-t l:'-e
r.,.,.., lr.,..c4. fj'io ..-,Jr, roo. q: e